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Is Steven Spielberg's Lincoln Project Still Next After Tintin?

Everyone knows that in Hollywood, nothing is officially "in production" until the cameras start rolling. So despite the report in May that Steven Spielberg would move on to shoot his Lincoln movie after finishing Tintin, we're still skeptical about whether or not that might actually happen. The only updates Spielberg gave to press yesterday, after receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes, were that the project is still "coming together really quickly." I guess that means it's still on track. Although its star, Liam Neeson, told ComingSoon today that he hasn't seen or a script and doesn't know the plans yet.

Neeson has been attached to play our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, for a few years now. "He asked me four years ago would I play this part and I most certainly said I would. He'll do it whenever he's ready to do it, but it's in the works," Neeson said. "I don't know (anything) other than what you know." In reality, we really don't know much about this project or even what the story will really be about. Of course it's a cinematic retelling of the life of Abraham Lincoln, who died in 1865, but at what age will it focus on him and will it lead right up to his assassination or otherwise - those are all questions that still remain unanswered.

Given this update on Lincoln doesn't provide much for us to mull over, I'm going to take this opportunity to mention how depressing it is that Spielberg's two upcoming projects are films that I don't really care about. Normally when Spielberg gets attached to something, it becomes the next big thing that we follow all the way to its release. But for whatever reason, both Tintin and Lincoln have no buzz at all. I think the lack of interest in Tintin comes from our disconnect with the material; and I think the lack of interest in Lincoln comes from not really wanting to see a period piece from Spielberg anymore. What do you think?

...I think you should be damned well excited for ANYTHING Spielberg comes out. It might turn out to be the next The Lost World (sucky) or it could turn into something extremely interesting (Amadeus or Schindler's List).

Scott McHenry

I agree Itri, but I do think that excitement will certainly pick up to normal pace when we actually know that he's going to do them and what the storylines and the casts are.

Ace

Seriously, I'm not interested in Lincoln or Tin Tin, although Liam will own the role.

Scott McHenry

I'm not that interested either, but I do think that excitement will certainly pick up to normal pace when we actually know that he's going to do them and what the storylines and the full casts are.

Dave Lister, JMC

@ #1 Ummm... Spielberg didn't direct Amadeus, that was Milos Forman.
I like historical pieces, so I'd see Lincoln; I couldn't care less about Tin Tin.

KyB

I imagine that Spielberg can only focus on one project at a time, it'd be pretty hard to direct two movies at the same time.

Itri

Sorry I meant Amistad. My mind was on the other one. Also Liam Neeson is also reason enough to be excited; guy rocks.

Proman

You know what I think? I think you are just a spoiled fool who has been spoiled by one too many masaterpiece by Spielberg. There is a ton of excitment for both Tintin and Lincoln. Your opinion is like a you know what everyone has.
Oh and Amistad rocks.

http://www.metricktraining.com Web Based Training

Can't say I would have an opinion one way or the other until we at least see some photos.
And preferably a trailer.
Although Steven has a pretty good track record, not everything touches turns to gold.

JKL

Funny - I had no idea that a project even existed to make a film about Lincoln, but just the other day I was looking at pictures of Daniel Day-Lewis and thought he would make a great (or even electrifying, as the actor is wont) Lincoln. I didn't even consider Liam Neeson though - he should be awesome nonetheless.
I think Lincoln is fascinating. He's certainly a polarizing figure in Am. history.

Timothy

You have to be excited just because Liam Neeson is playing Abraham Lincoln. I mean, come on, can you think of a better fit?

http://designblurb.com/ Eli

As someone that really enjoyed the Tintin cartoon, I'm really looking forward to Spielberg's Tintin. I think I will really enjoy it even though the style and everything will be completely different. I just want to see a different version of the same story, told in a new and amazing way.

The Hornet King

I think the problem with the Tintin movie is that those who have never even heard of the series (which seems to be a large percentage of the American population), have no desire to see a film about these apparently obscure characters. Being Belgian, the Tintin franchise is much more popular in Europe than it is in the U.S. Even over there, is has definitely dropped further into obscurity, as Herge wrote the last book in the mid-70's.
On the flip side, fans of the series (of which I am one) also have very little desire to see these characters on screen. Not because the series isn't awesome, but because I can virtually guarantee that a filmed version of Tintin will come of as corny and lame. It is meant for the page, and I'm of the opinion that thats where it should stay.
I really can't figure out what demographic this film is targeting. As I said, I am a longtime fan of the series, but I don't really need to see a Tintin movie, even if it is Spielberg.

http://valeriewriter.wordpress.com Valeriewriter

Maybe Shia can play Lincoln Jr. !!!

TintinUSA

I agree with you partially Hornet King. The problem with the Tintin movie is that the character is not know in the US. However, the world doesn't revolve around one single country. Go anywhere else on the planet, and people do know Tintin. Not only is he immensely popular in Europe (and I disagree that he has been dropping into obscurity), but he is super popular in the rest of the world, from China to India, from Japan to South America. The US is really one of the only countries that isn't familiar with the Tintin phenomenon, because face it Hornet King, that's really what Tintin is in Belgium (I'm a Belgian living in the US btw )
People are surprised that the Lincoln project has been in the pipes for over four years? The Tintin project started in the early 80ies!!! Yep, almost 30 years ago! Back then, Spielberg was in negotiations with Herge, the author of Tintin. Herge being super protective of his characters, agreed to have a Tintin movie made only if Spielberg himself would direct it. When he heard rumors that Spielberg was only going to produce it and have some one else direct it, Herge backed out. To save the situation, Spielberg booked himself a flight to Brussels, to talk to Herge in person. But the meeting never happened. A week before Spielberg was supposed to arrive in the Belgian capital, Herge died of leukemia. The film project was put on hold for over 20 years. Spielberg admitted, however, that he used material from the Tintin books in Temple of Doom and Last Crusade, the two Indiana Jones movies he made when he still had the rights to the Tintin books.
I, for one, am super excited about the Tintin films Spielberg is finally going to make. Hell, I waited 25 years for them! The only concern I have is the casting. They still haven't cast Tintin and I'm afraid they're going for somebody way too young. Tintin is a journalist, so I don't know why they want to cast a young kid for the part!

Stephen

I don't know how people couldn't be interesting in a Lincoln biopic. The most interesting political figure in American History, the greatest writer of political prose in American history, considered by most, the greatest American President ever, and probably the greatest statesman and speachmaker of the 19th century and then you add in his background (born in the middle of nowhere, to nobodies, loses his mother as a child, father fights to get him to stop wasting time on education and even sells him as a day laborer around town, teaches himself essentially how to read, science, math, and law, and grows up to be essentially the right man, in the right place, at the right time in American History and becomes in many ways a hero to people across the world across the past two centuries, and then is shot dead at the height of his powers, and the epitath spoken is even perfect, at his death bed, "now he belongs to the ages". It an extraordinary story. And that's just the historical retelling, there are complications from the unforunate but politically necessary quotes and arguments in the Lincoln Douglass Debates (the most famous poltical debates of the 19th century), the view of the south in regards to him, the view of ACLU types about his supsending habeous corpus (what good is habeous corpus if there is no union left at all at the end of the day?), his evolution as a man on race from childhood and early adulthood, to being a disappointment to Douglas in '61, only for Douglas to say of him at the 2nd inaugural a month before his death "that was a sacred effort" and later provide a eulogy to a man Douglas felt had radically changed in a few years in office.
It is an absolutely extraordinary story. The only way this isn't an amazing movie is if Spielberg screws it up. Seriously, i can understand people being weary of costume drama's and biopics, but Lincoln's story is essentially hard to even believe happened. As was said by a British stateman years later, "his story, and his performance, in life, and tragic death" was something that could have and maybe should have been written by Shakespeare from start to finish. His life and Death, was very much like a Shakeaspearean History and Tragedy combined in one play. Easily could be a brilliant move if done well.

Chetan

Trust me, Spielberg will do everything at the right time. He will make the entire world Buzz perfectly at the right time. I think he will definitely Direct the film Lincoln not only producing it. Before he start directing a film, emotionally he will get ready. You know, even Schindler's List. In 1982 when he was doing ET he read the book and decided to do but he started the project in 1990s (after Jurassic Park).
He is the Ultimate Man. He's the only man who would direct multiple movies at the same time, as what he did, Indiana Jones & the last Crusade and Always in 1989, Jurassic Park and Schindler's List in 1993, The Lost World Jurassic Park and Amistad in 1997, War of The Worlds and Munich in 2005.
He is directing and producing Tin Tin , Lincoln and Interstellar which is gonna release on Summer 2011, Jonathan Nolan (screenwritter of Memento, Dark Knight) wrote the screenplay, even this is in works from years even before The Dark Knight. It's a Sci-Fi movie, Based on the theories of renowned physicist Kip Throne.
Finally I dare to suggest, Lincoln's a epic history, who would direct such a masterpiece better than Mr. Steven Spielberg. Trust me It's gonna be part of Hollywood's History like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.
I am glad to share my feelings with people and fans around the world. Thanks for this opportunity.